Former Bath flanker Julian Salvi has signed for Leicester Tigers ahead of the 2011-12 Aviva Premiership season.

The Australian-born openside, 25, will step into Craig Newby's shoes following the news that the Kiwi will be out until December with a knee injury. Salvi, an Australian A international, returned to the Brumbies after spending a season with Bath in 2009-10 making 29 appearances. However, following the arrival of Jake White at the Canberra franchise, Salvi was deemed surplus to requirements despite having a year left on his contract and makes the journey back to the northern hemisphere.

Leicester Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill was delighted with his new signing and will be hoping Salvi, who possesses an Italian passport, makes the same impact as he did at their West Country rivals. "We're delighted that Julian has agreed to join us," Cockerill said. "He enjoyed a very good season in England a couple of years ago and has been a major performer in Australia too.

"Losing a player of Craig Newby's influence and experience is a blow to the squad, especially during a World Cup year when we are likely to be without a number of senior players. But we see Julian as a very good addition to the squad. He will join us by the end of July and his previous experience in this country should allow him to fit in pretty quickly."